Police Scotland

Since 1976, Grampian Police successfully operated a dedicated unit, which has been more recently known as the Energy and Protective Security Unit (EPSU), providing support and advice to the oil and gas industry. EPSU fulfilled a variety of roles including close liaison with all oil and gas operators, contractors, drilling and service companies in relation to offshore emergency response. The unit had a strong focus on providing assistance regarding contingency procedures and takes part in company emergency response exercises. The EPSU also provided support and advice to operational police officers and acted as a conduit for information between the police and the energy sector.

On 1 April 2013, Grampian Police, along with the other seven existing Scottish Police Forces became part of the Police Service of Scotland, known as Police Scotland. Police Scotlandcontinues to provide the same level of support through the Energy Liaison Unit based inAberdeen

Police Scotland currently provides the chair and secretariat for the Emergency Preparedness Offshore Liaison (EPOL) Group. This is an industry driven initiative fully supported by the force, encouraging oil and gas companies to share good practice and other information in relation to offshore safety and to address emergency planning and response issues. The group was established in 1995 with the aim of providing a forum to allow organisations to come together in order to learn lessons from both real incidents and exercise scenarios and to improve existing emergency response procedures.

Police Scotland has been exploring the impact the development of the UK offshore renewables industry may have, in conjunction with other UK police forces.